Effects of global climate change on European marine biodiversity
Global warming has a range of expected effects on marine systems. The effects may be related to changing water temperatures, circulation or habitat; while others occur through altered pathways within biogeochemical cycles and food webs. The biological responses and impacts result from the physical effects. [1]
Even without human-induced climate change, the biodiversity and biography of species is continuously changing (seasonal and annual changes). For this reason is long time monitoring necessary. The marine systems may become more dynamic and variable due to climate change. [1]
Europe may be less threatened by sea-level rise than many developing country regions. However, coastal ecosystems do appear to be threatened, especially enclosed seas such as the Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Sea. These seas have only small and primarily east-west orientated movement corridors, which may restrict northward displacement of organism in these areas. [2]
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Effects on primary production
Higher temperatures and enhanced stratification could affect the amount and production of phytoplankton. A number of models predict an increase in global primary production of between 1% and 8% by 2050, when compared to pre-industrial times (SAMIENTO 2004 cit in 3)
Because phytoplankton is the basis of the marine food web, any change in the timing, abundance or species composition of the phytoplankton will have an effect on the whole food web. [1]
Effects on the recruitment process
The population dynamics of a lot of marine vertebrates and fish are driven by recruitment processes. In cold temperate species is the recruitment often synchronized with seasonal production cycles of phytoplankton. Warming may result in advancement of the timing of reproduction of these fish species; this may result in a mismatch with their food source (phytoplankton) (match/mismatch hypothesis). A change in recruitment success will lead to shifts in species composition. [1]
Example: cod recruitment in the North Sea
The Atlantic cod recruitment in the North Sea, in the past 40 years, was influenced by changes at the base of the food web (bottom-up-control), induced by rise of temperature. Cod recruitment decreased from the mid-1980s, coincident with unfavorable changes in the plankton ecosystem. [3] Fig 1
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Phillipart C.J.M. (ed.) (2007). Impacts of climate change on the European marine and coastal environment: ecosystems approach. European Science Foundation, Marine Board: Strasbourg, France. 82pp.
- ↑ Nicholls, R.J.; Klein,R.J.T. (2005). Climate change and coastal management on Europe's coast, in: Vermaat, J.E. et al. (Ed.) (2005). Managing European coasts: past, present and future. pp. 199-226.
- ↑ Beaugrand, G.; Brander, K.M.; Lindley, J.A.; Souissi, S.; Reid, P.C. (2003). Plankton effect on cod recruitment in the North Sea.Nature (Lond.) 426(6967): 661-664.
